CHAPTER VIII 



SOME GREAT RUNS WITH THE OLD SURREY 



HUNTING history, so far as Surrey is concerned, 

 contains accounts of many brilliant runs which 

 demand a place in this chronicle, so that they may be 

 preserved for the benefit of posterity. They were enjoyed 

 vastly, no doubt, by the Nimrods who were fortunate 

 enough to take part in them. Conceivably, they may be 

 regarded by critics from the " swagger " counties as 

 rather long, slow, hunting runs, as giving a lack of pace 

 and excitement ; but we are not prepared to concede that 

 objection. It leads us into misty realms of controversy 

 not likely to promote our sporting purpose. Ancient and 

 modern records show that the Old Surrey has given its 

 followers many splendid runs, which bear favourable 

 comparison with those achieved by any other hounds. 

 The material at our disposal is voluminous as to this 

 point ; we proceed to the work of selection with a keen 

 appreciation of its importance. How true it is that " the 

 labour we delight in physics pain," and toil in the cause 

 of sport becomes a pleasure ! 



To go back as far as possible, in order to do full justice 

 to our subject, we find in the " Sporting Magazine " of 

 1800 the following notable paragraph : — 



" The Surrey fox-hounds have had some sharp runs, 



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